Please note: HEOA requires that titles, International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and costs of all course materials be available prior to the time of registration in printed or electronic forms. (HEOA Section 133d1). Noncompliance will result in loss of Federal Title IV funding for Western, and the Bookstore has become the vehicle of compliance.

If textbook orders are not turned in on time, the previously used text will again be assigned to the course.

Once adopted, a textbook will be used for at least two years, except in areas of rapidly changing technology or in cases of edition changes.

If an adopted text is not an integral part of class instruction, it should be listed as "Optional" in the Department Book Order.

Losses incurred by the Bookstore due to changes made within two weeks of class start will be charged to the Department making the change.

Considerations in textbook selection:

Cost to students (If Bundled materials are selected, are the separate pieces reasonably priced?) Note that the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires that Publishers and their Sales Representatives supply "the price at which the publisher would make the college textbook or supplemental material available to the bookstore… and the price at which the publisher makes the college textbook or supplemental materials available to the public." HEOA Section 133.c1A

Copyright dates and new edition frequency, and a "description of substantial content revisions made between the current edition… and the previous edition".(HEOA Section 133.c 1B,C requires this information to be available from the Publisher for at least three editions back.) Refer to the Publisher's website or contact the sales representative for this information.

Availability

Will the edition chosen be in print when classes start?

If bundled, are all pieces available separately? (HEOA requirement)

If passcodes for website access are a part of the course materials, are provisions available for extended use in cases of two or three semester courses?

Custom textbooks are acceptable but carry additional costs and time availability restrictions. These editions carry no buyback outside Western, have no outside availability, and take four to six weeks to ship. Will the custom text be available to all of your students?

Is the text available in alternate formats such as paperback, unbound, electronic, and at what cost for each?